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Morning Fix: Press-ing the Reset Button

President Obama holds a news conference this afternoon in the Rose garden. Photo by Chris Kleponis -- Bloomberg News

President Obama will hold his fourth domestic press conference this afternoon as he seeks to re-focus the political debate amid criticism of his approach to the ongoing protests in Iran and lingering doubts about the state of he economy and the viability of his health care reform proposal.

Today's press conference, which will be held in the Rose Garden at 12:30 -- the Fix will be live-twittering -- is the fourth domestic presser Obama has held but his first in 55 days. (By comparison, former President George W. Bush held three press conferences in his first six months in office.)

Asked about the goal of the presser, a senior White House official said that "given the number of challenges facing the administration over the next few months, it's a good time for the president to address the questions directly."

The press conference lands at a rare weak moment for the Obama White House with a series of domestic and international challenges bearing down on him.

Republicans have increased the volume of their calls for Obama to issue a condemnation of the election results in Iran amid ongoing protests in the country. The president, so far, has largely resisted those entreaties.

And, as the White House continues to push for an overhaul of the health care system, some within his own party -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), most notably -- are expressing skepticism that the plan has the votes for passage.

Enter Obama.

The president is, without question, the best advocate for his own policies given the still strong personal approval numbers that he carries in the eyes of Americans. They trust and like him and are, therefore, more likely to side with him on policy matters when they hear directly from him.

That's exactly the sort of opportunity that today's press conference affords Obama. During his first three press conferences, the president has used his opening remarks to frame the message that he wants to send to the American people and simply reiterated that messaging during the question and answer portion of the presser.

Expect him to follow that blueprint again today as he seeks to persuade the American people -- and their elected representatives -- of the rightness of his approach on Iran, the economy and health care.

White House to Form Auto Communities Council: Vice President Biden will announce the creation of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers -- a government group created by executive order and designed to coordinate the response to the desperate economic straits in which many auto workers find themselves -- at an event tomorrow in Perrysburg, Ohio. The Council will be chaired by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and National Economic Council director Larry Summers. The White House has struggled with how to deal with the collapse of the auto industry with polling suggesting that the American public opposes a government bailout of Detroit but the states most heavily affected -- Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Wisconsin -- are all swing states heading into 2012.

Haley Huddles with Boehner: Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) will meet today with the House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) to talk health care among other issues, according to a source familiar with the meeting. Barbour, the all-but-certain head of the Republican Governors Association in 2010 and a potential 2012 candidate, is ramping up his national profile in recent weeks. He was in Virginia on Monday collecting upwards of $250,000 for the gubernatorial candidacy of former state attorney general Bob McDonnell and will spend back to back days later this week raising money for the state parties in New Hampshire and Iowa. Perhaps coincidentally (not!), those are the two states almost certain to kick off the 2012 presidential nominating contest.

Dodd Switches on Gay Marriage: Embattled Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd (D) reversed his past opposition to gay marriage in an editorial that ran in the Meriden Record-Journal newspaper over the weekend, yet more evidence that he is concerned with the possibility of a serious primary challenge. "The fact I was raised a certain way just isn't a good enough reason to stand in the way of fairness anymore," wrote Dodd. (He had previously been supportive of extending benefits to same sex couples but not of gay marriage.) While we don't question Dodd's change of heart on the issue, the timing of his decision to announce it is curious. Dodd has seen his popularity slip badly in the state -- the result of a series of ethical mishaps -- and his weakness politically has led businessman Merrick Alpert (D) as well as several Republicans to announce their candidacies to unseat the longtime incumbent. A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed Dodd leading Alpert 44 percent to 24 percent in a primary matchup but trailing former Rep. Rob Simmons (R) by six points in a hypothetical general election race.

Conway Hosts Big D.C. $ Event: Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway (D) is holding a fundraiser tonight in Washington featuring a number of bold-faced names from Bluegrass politics. The event will be hosted by state Auditor Crit Luallen, state House Speaker Greg Stumbo and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, and Reps. Ben Chandler and John Yarmuth are also expected to attend. This show of establishment support is intriguing given that Conway faces Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo in next year's Democratic primary. The race has already split Kentucky Democrats with Gov.Steve Beshear (D) siding with Mongiardo. The Republican field is equally unsettled; Sen. Jim Bunning (R) can't seem to decide whether to retire or run again while Secretary of State Trey Grayson (R) wants to run but doesn't want to alienate the Republican incumbent.

And Speaking of Kentucky....: Didn't get enough of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) during the 2008 presidential campaign? (Who did?) Never fear because Rand Paul, the son of the Texas Republican, appears ready to run for the Republican nod in Kentucky's Senate race. Paul sent an e-mail to reporters on Monday touting his signing of the Americans for Tax Reform pledge not to raise taxes under any circumstances, and noting that ATR president Grover Norquist is scheduled to stop in Lexington next Monday to "acknowledge Dr. Paul's pledge."

Say What?: "We are not going to discuss the specifics of his travel arrangements or his security arrangements." -- Joel Sawyer, communications director for Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.), responds to questions regarding the whereabouts of his boss who hasn't been seen or heard from since last Thursday.

I think everyone needs to eat more chocolate... healthy chocolate... for a lift in mood. Visit www.healthychocolateformyfamily.com or call 1-888-225-3008 to find out how chocolate can be healthy and provide a great source of residual income for you and your family... because times are getting tougher in every industry except a few, like chocolate!

Whenever we stand up to a government that denies the Holocaust we offer a critical message to the world. We live in an age of vulnerability. Holocaust deniers ply their vitriolic poison everywhere, especially with young people on the Internet. We know from captured German war records that millions of Jews (and others) were systematically exterminated by Nazi Germany - most in gas chambers. Holocaust books and movies help to tell the true story of the Shoah, not Neo-Nazi historical revision.

To learn what it felt like to live through the Holocaust, read "Jacob's Courage. This is a tender coming of age love story of two young adults living in Salzburg at the time when the Nazi war machine enters Austria. This historical novel presents accurate scenes and situations of Jews in ghettos and concentration camps, with particular attention to Theresienstadt and Auschwitz. It explores the dazzling beauty of passionate love and enduring bravery in a lurid world where the innocent are murdered. From despair, to unforgettable moments of chaste beauty, "Jacob’s Courage" examines a constellation of emotions during a time of incomprehensible brutality.

Standing up to those who deny the Holocaust (Iran) is what America is all about. It is about showing the world that anti-Semitism is wrong and that America is a tolerant nation.

If you read the articles at the link and review the citations at the embedded links, you will be “literate” about the facts of the “eligibility” story and will be able to inform the public objectively.

Well I used to go against gooper trolls on message boards until I finally twigged I was just wasting my time and getting myself needlessly torqued up.

Zouk isn't even worth the time to insult, he writes like he's 13 years old.

In addition to lying about their own lives, one other point: these guys CAN'T debate. They CAN'T put together a coherent line of reasoning, even a simple one, even if they could keep from boiling over for a paragraph. Anytime you see what appears to be a reasoned response, paste a few words into google and you'll always find it's someone else's writing.

This part, their passion for saying "you're wrong" but entirely unable to rebut or refute, is quite the sociological phenomenon.

"Too bad about vbhoomes, for a while it looked like he was a cut above the two bedwetters, but between "yellow streak" and "idol worship," I guess not"

I don't think there's really such thing as a reasonable conservative anymore. Almost every single thing they have stood for has been completely refuted over the Bush years. To continue to espouse those beliefs is antithetical to being reasonable. The "intelligent" conservatives are the ones who go against their white paper from time to time. I guess that might be relatively intelligent for their group, but to be wrong a little less often isn't saying all that much.

nah, king of puke has no other life than this blog. he's been on here every day all day for years. It would be sad if he had a brain, but since he doesn't it at least keeps him from soiling himself in public too often.

DDAWD: save your breath. Just ignore him and let him twist in the wind. He'll go away if his trolls don't get traction. Too bad Jake won't follow him, but that's the breaks. Maybe zouk has to do chores once in a while, Jake has nothing else to do at all apparently.

If the guys who run the blog aren't going to ban them for daily violations, it's up to the rest of us to ignore them. Attacking them doesn't work, because it's just another kind of attention to them, and attention is what they're about.

Too bad about vbhoomes, for a while it looked like he was a cut above the two bedwetters, but between "yellow streak" and "idol worship," I guess not

In what appeared to be a coordinated exchange, President Obama called on the Huffington Post's Nico Pitney near the start of his press conference and requested a question directly about Iran.“Nico, I know you and all across the Internet, we've been seeing a lot of reports coming out of Iran,” Obama said, addressing Pitney. “I know there may actually be questions from people in Iran who are communicating through the Internet. Do you have a question?”

you notice I did not include you in the moonbat section. you have not made loony tunes proclamations like the others. the jury is still out.

but let me get this straight, you warn me about thinking I am the smartest in the room and then lay claim to that title. Barry, is that you?

As far as my parrot goes, I concluded a while ago that he is unfortunatley a Lib. He has the brain the size of a pea, he relies on me for all his food, he is pleasing to regard but eventually drops some liberalism all over you. and to top it off, he keeps saying Barrraaccckkkk.

52 percent: Americans who give President Obama “high marks for his response to the crisis in Iran,” according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll. Thirty-six percent disapprove of how he is handling the situation. When it comes to Obama’s “handling of foreign affairs in general,” 61 percent approve while 32 percent disapprove.

"New poll numbers really seem to bear out the fears of some Republicans: The GOP’s opposition to Sotomayor seems to be hurting the party among Latinos in a big way.

The latest numbers from the nonpartisan Research 2000 find that only eight percent of Latinos view the party favorably, while an astonishing 86 percent view it unfavorably.

One of the big stories today is that Republicans are realizing that there’s no political percentage in fighting the Sotomayor nomination. It’s striking that Latino opinion about the GOP is dropping so fast, even at a moment when GOP opposition to Sotomayor appears to be flagging, as opposed to intensifying.

This continuing drop among Latinos, coming at a time when many party strategists recognize the party’s desperate need to broaden its appeal, only reminds us that not only are there few apparent upsides in opposing Sotomayor, there are potentially serious costs, too."

Just a reminder: you can't win national office without significant Latino support. Statistically, just can't do it. The rednect population is dying out [thank god] and the latino is increasing, which means many years of GOP wandering [on the Applachian trail?]

Whew, for a second there I thought we might go 24 hours without an Obama primetime special. I assume the reset button he's pressing is the hilarious mistranslated "overcharge" button the State Department gave to the Russians. What a bunch of geniuses! Obama reminds me of one of those old Onion articles - "Manager to hold daily meetings to address workplace inefficiency" or the like. I assume Obama is trying to refocus on domestic issues given how stupefyingly incompetent he has been at handling the Iran situation, happily jettisoning a once in a generation opportunity to forment both democracy and rapprochment with Iran. Remember how Bush used to get mercilessly attacked for "staying the course" -- yet when Obama does it he is "keeping his cool"? That makes a lot of sense.

Of course, the funny part is that Obama's domestic record blows too, with employment smashing his projections and his gargantuan $787 billion wishlist bailout doing zilch to improve the economy. Just not 'ha ha' funny.

''Could there be something to all the talk of an Obama effect, after all? A stealth effect, perhaps?'' So asked Helene Cooper, the New York Times' diplomatic correspondent (Snip) t took US President Barack Obama eight days to issue a clear statement of support for the millions of pro-freedom demonstrators throughout Iran risking their lives to oppose the tyranny of the mullahs. And after eight days of vacillating and hedging his bets

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Meanwhile at the "birthplace" : North Korea Expected to
Launch Missiles
Associated Press, by Staff

"The press conference...rare weak moment for the Obama White House...".

I must agree. He is pretty much always weak. Maybe that's why all the femmes, Libs and moonbats love him so. It is now OK to be passive, submissive, surrendering, perplexed, hiding beneath the table, pretend smart and kool-aid chic.

For the same reason the MSM sabotaged Clinton, chrisfox. Global corporations [including insurance companies] own this newspaper, just like every other media company. Every single own of them is owned by one of 6 companies -- the CEOs of which are all Republicans. [I think GE owns WaPo].

This is the best definition of socialism I have ever seen. Very easy
to understand the concept. This is how "spreading the wealth" works
in the end:

An economics professor at Texas Tech said he had never failed a single
student before but had, once, failed an entire class. That class had
insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no
one would be rich, a great equalizer. The professor then said ok, we
will have an experiment in this class on socialism.

All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade
so no one would fail and no one would receive an A. After the first
test the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who
studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were
happy. But, as the second test rolled around, the students who
studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard
decided they wanted a free ride too; so they studied little. The
second test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test
rolled around the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame, name calling all
resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of
anyone else. All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor
told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the
reward is great, the effort to succeed is great; but when government
takes all the reward away; no one will try or want to succeed.

Could not be any simpler than that....

Quote of the week: No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government Programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth!
-Ronald Reagan

A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government.
-Thomas Jefferson

Why not the same questions about John McCain who wasn't even born in the US?
------------

John McCain is NOT QUALIFIED to be the POTUS per the 'natural born' clause of the Constitution as defined by Vatel - what has that got to do with AKA Obama's eligibility?

Answer: NOTHING!

Barry was a British subject by birth which was the expressed concern of our founding fathers when they put the 'natural born' clause in the Constitution. That concern may no longer be realistic these days but IT IS THE LAW!

WAPO proves over and over again that the quality of the article is reflected in the quality of comments. Swing and miss again, Cilliza...It irritates me that the NY Times (?!?!) and its readership now show more insight and depth in comments in so many issues. Every time you come here, the same snarky-live in mom's basement-unemployed losers are here, day after day...blech

52 percent: Americans who give President Obama “high marks for his response to the crisis in Iran,” according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll. Thirty-six percent disapprove of how he is handling the situation. When it comes to Obama’s “handling of foreign affairs in general,” 61 percent approve while 32 percent disapprove.

"Newt Gingrich likewise led a Republican takeover of the House of Representatives by explaining how the Republican agenda would benefit a wide range of people."
****************************************

Of course, it didn't work out like he said it would.
It never does, because it's either FAULTY THINKING, or an out-and-out LIE!

Name ONE. Just ONE republican idea or inititative or program that worked out AS ADVERTISED.

First he says somethng totally stupid and then the koolaid wears off or something...

"Yesterday on Fox News, Sean Hannity and former U.N. ambassador John Bolton joined the right-wing chorus hitting President Obama’s response to the Iranian election crisis. Bolton repeatedly said Obama should act more forcefully and offer the “possibility of concrete assistance” to the Iranian protestors:

BOLTON: Well, it’s not at all what they want, and you know what’s worst of all about this, looking at President Obama, is not only that he’s being timid, he’s being disingenuous. The real reason that he won’t speak out has nothing to do with this argument that we don’t want to meddle. [...]

[Obama] is abandoning the people in the streets and not providing any possibility of concrete assistance to them.

Hannity then asked Bolton whether he agreed with Col. Ralph Peters’s recent New York Post op-ed, in which he wrote that Obama’s “silence” is “a blank check for the current regime.” Bolton surprisingly backtracked and seemed to contradict his statements from a few moments earlier, claiming it’s better to be “prudent” right now because the United States isn’t in a position to “provide concrete assistance”:

BOLTON: Well, I think it’s mostly right except I would say this. Because including during the Bush administration we did not prepare adequately for this potential revolutionary moment, we’re not really in a position now to offer much concrete assistance.

And I don’t want America to be in a position where we urge people in the streets and then watch them die. I’d rather be a little bit prudent and prepare for the long-term where we really can provide concrete assistance."

An investigative piece by the Wonk Room’s Brad Johnson exposed Gingrich’s American Solutions as a front group for Peabody Energy, the world’s largest coal company. ASWF raked in over a quarter-million dollars in contributions in 2008 from the coal juggernaut, while receiving much of its remaining funding from a host of right-wing billionaires including casino kingpin Sheldon Adelson.

The lap dog media cannot explain the failure of Obama's stimulus that has resulted in increasing unemployment. He needs to come out from below his desk, throw away those lame teleprompters,and accept his failing administration. He is the laughing stock of the Middle East, Europe, and North Korea who view this lummox as a paper tiger that is glamorized by a fawning news media, as in the case of Pavlov's dogs who roll over at each salivation!

"Here is the number for the FBI. They are very helpful and interested. If someone you know appears to be a danger to your president, if what they say alarms you, it's your duty to let the authorities know."

I'm sure you made a similar post when the Left Wing nuts were spewing their insane nonsense during Bush's eight years. Right?

"Nope, no difference there. did you consider that he may not be liked because of his liberalism?"

You need to get over this idea that you're the smartest person in the room. The topic isn't Obama's popularity and you know it. After listening to Bush burn one straw man after another for a decade, everyone's pretty attuned to that rhetorical device.

Here is the number for the FBI. They are very helpful and interested. If someone you know appears to be a danger to your president, if what they say alarms you, it's your duty to let the authorities know.

"Yeah, this whole thing is mind-boggling. This is one of the most explicit, widespread expressions of racism I have witnessed.

Posted by: DDAWD

--
Really, Racism? How so?"

The whole thing is driven by Obama's race and name. Obama has presented his birth certificate just like everyone before him has. Why not the same questions about John McCain who wasn't even born in the US?

I am sure when you find a liberal professor who will accept a dissertation on blogging (probably in the woman's studies department) that your citation skills will come in handy. Until then, get a life. If this site was refereed, all the Libs would be excluded for foolishness. what would drivl and chrissuxcox do all day? you can check your welfare benefits on line now, no need to take the bus downtown to stand in line anymore.

"Ronald Reagan won two elections in a landslide by being Ronald Reagan-- and, most important of all-- explaining to a broad electorate how what he advocated would be best for them and for the country. Newt Gingrich likewise led a Republican takeover of the House of Representatives by explaining how the Republican agenda would benefit a wide range of people."

David Frum, at NewMajority.com, catalogues the economic misery Ahmadinejad has delivered. The unemployment rate, already at 10.5 percent four years ago, has shot up to 17 percent. The inflation rate is 25 percent, destroying savings and driving down living standards. Despite Iran's immense oil wealth and the rise in oil prices in recent years, the standard of living for the typical Iranian is no better now than it was in 1975. Because Iran has not built oil refineries, this oil-rich nation must import 40 percent of its gasoline. Moreover, the corruption of the clerical elite is widespread and universally detested.

President Obama has spent much of the past six months talking about all the things he inherited from George Bush. Unfortunately there are a lot of things he did not inherit from Bush, among them how to be the leader of the free world. The uprising in Iran has revealed Obama’s lack of leadership, but even worse, an apparent weakness when it comes to speaking up for freedom for everyone in the world.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

“America will continue to rally the world to confront these threats. And, tonight, let me speak directly to the citizens of Iran: America respects you and we respect your country. We respect your right to choose your own future and win your own freedom. And our nation hopes one day to be the closest of friends with a free and democratic Iran.”

Democrats studiously avoided presenting alternatives to what the Republican-controlled Congress and the Bush administration were doing, and just lambasted them at every turn. That is how the Democrats replaced Republicans at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

Ronald Reagan won two elections in a landslide by being Ronald Reagan-- and, most important of all-- explaining to a broad electorate how what he advocated would be best for them and for the country. Newt Gingrich likewise led a Republican takeover of the House of Representatives by explaining how the Republican agenda would benefit a wide range of people.

Neither of them won by pretending to be Democrats. It was precisely the Republican "moderates"-- Bob Dole and John McCain-- who lost disastrously to Democrats who were initially little known individuals but who knew how to talk.

THE BUSH-ERA "EXTRAJUDICIAL TARGETING AND PUNISHMENT NETWORK" REMAINS IN PLACE...

..."MULTI-AGENCY COORDINATED ACTION" OPERATIONS AGAINST UNJUSTLY TARGETED AMERICANS DEEMED TO BE DISSIDENTS, TROUBLEMAKERS, OR SLANDERED AS SOCIAL DEVIATES.

THIS NATIONWIDE SYSTEM OF VIGILANTE INJUSTICE POSES A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY -- AND TO THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY.

The Bush-Cheney "multi-agency action" extrajudicial vigilante network and a related unconstitutional array of "programs of personal destruction" remain in place -- operating in virtually every community in the U.S., aided and abetted by local authorities.

President Obama may not even be aware of some of the deeply entrenched "ops" that threaten his presidency...

"I wonder if that is indicative of his diving poll numbers or just an anomoly?"

LOL. You love to keep saying "diving poll numbers" while ignoring the fact that their still higher than most, if not all presidents at this point in their term. They just started out unsustainably high.

It's not an anomoly. One of our resident conservative trolls posted a link from here to a conservative troll forum, likely freerepublic or something like that.

Barry "I Am a Celebrity" Soetoro's facade is crumbling. The Radical is exposed. He needs to simply step down before he rots total irreversible destruction on America. He would have no problem getting a guest host gig on Oprah, the View or his own Family Soap Opera on NBC - "The Soetoros". He would fit right in as a Liberal College President. Or do what he likes best, write another book about himself. Go Barry while you still have some sliver of dignity.

Drindl get a grip, nobody one this blog is that deranged except maybe scrivner and I'm sure he is harmless. I have seen more negative postings on the blog about President Obama than I ever seen before. I wonder if that is indicative of his diving poll numbers or just an anomoly?

Relax, don't get obsessive, yourself. Maybe it's just fair sport for First Amendment practitioners. Besides, anyone in their mid-20's or older witnessed the non-stop Bush bashing that went on for eight years.

Thank you Haley Barbour. While the state that you still govern is going through a massive budget crisis which could lead to an entire shut down of state government next week, you are running around the country campaigning. Maybe, just maybe, Haley should actually do the job he is being paid for rather than try to campaign for a job he will never get.

Hopefully at least a couple reporters will ask probing questions. I would like to see these questions asked and answered:

1) Mr. President, as a candidate you strongly opposed a health care mandate and taxing employer paid health care benefits. Why are you, as president, open and likely to accept either or both of these in a health care bill? How do you justify flip flopping on these two issues?

2) Mr. President, you characterized the Iraq war as being a war or choice. Isn't the economic stimulus bill you signed, also a stimulus of choice? Signs show likely economic recovery this year and widespread concerns among the public about huge budget deficits over at least the next eight years. With recovery likely soon and much of the stimulus bill not intended to be spent until the next and following year, shouldn't you, Congress consider scaling back the stimulus, to prevent higher deficits, as well as high inflation within a couple years?

3) Mr. President, as a candidate you said you were opposed to raising taxes on households earning less than $250,000 a year. Is this still your position and if not, why have you changed your mind?

4) Mr. President, you campaigned for transparency and the rule of law in government. Yet your administration seems opposed to prosecuting possible war crimes during the previous administration, maintains the same or similar state secrets arguments as the Bush administration and appears to justify indefinite detention of prisoners who have not been charged and had a trial. How are such policies compatible with transparency, the rule of law and our Constitution?

By the way, Bob Herbert has an excellent column, "Who are we?," at "The New York Times" website. Herbert is quite critical of the Obama administration in the areas alluded to in question four.

I mean, do what you want. It's just kind of sad. Do you not have any original thoughts? Is that why you're forced to copy-and-paste things from other people's works and then post it here as if it were your own?

A link would have been better to convey your point because you only plagarized half of it, there was more that you deprived us all of.

So he's a failure after six months, even though the economy was wrecked by Bush. I haven't agreed with everything he's done, but what did you expect folks? The economy bottomed out as he was entering office, the debt had ballooned under Bush (as it did under Reagan by the way), and we're still spending a ton of money on two wars, one of which never needed to go down.

And yes conservatives, you shouldn't raise taxes in these conditions. Duh. But shouldn't taxes have went up a little in about 2003 when the economy was screaming, so we could have lowered them now when we need it? Shouldn't the Fed have raised interest rates too back then? Gee, why didn't they go up then? GWB needed the economy strong in 2004, damn the consequences.

I hearken back to George Bush Sr, who was far from perfect, but raised taxes when he needed to (because of the Reagan deficits) and was wise enough to sit back and watch the USSR fall apart on its own.

Stop complaining or come up with some solutions. Endless tax cuts and endless belligerency are not a party platform, and if they are, you might want to go back to the drawing board.

Birther is the term for the conspiracy nuts who say Obama isn't really a citizen, because they personally haven't seen his birth certificate. It's just one symptom of this wave of mental illness sweeping the country, this deep sickness, hatred and racism, that has overcome the low IQ contigent of US citizens.

Reminds me a lot of interviews I have seen of German citizens in the 30s, the incipient violence, the seething, baseless mindless rage.

How come WAPO isn't reporting about the new health plan financing in which medical insurance benefits would be taxed and IT EXEMPTS UNION MEMBERS, WITH COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS FROM PAYING TAXES ON THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE?

That's right. The payback to the UAW was just the start. The new bill, in draft form, exempts collective bargaining agreements and has pushed the start date out to 2013.

Folks, wake-up. King Obama is pushing for the unionization of America instead of us standing for self-reliance.

The fat lady is warming up for an early appearance in Obama's faux administration. Obama has long ago used his celebrity to mask his lack of maturity and gravitas. He's trying desperately to keep the fat lady off the stage with his non-stop press appearances but her appearance is imminent.

Diane Sawyer, the sucker upper from the Government Run Media, gets her 15 minutes of fame tonight as part of Obama's support staff.

Take a poster like king of zouk, or jaked. Totally obsessive, lives on this board -- can't be employed. And hates our president and clearly wishes him ill. Now, someone like that -- someone deranged, obssessive, down on his luck --yelping about the second amendment -- that is precisely the kind of suspect the FBI and the Secret Service should be watching. They have the motive, they have the time, they have the obssession.

I have emailed the management about some of the posters here and other blogs I go to. I think it's up to us to watch out for potential domestic terrorists and report them. In most of the recent incidents of terrorism, like the Holocaust shooter, people were aware that the individual was capable of that, but did nothing.

Every time Obama's poll numbers drop, his handlers trot him out to do yet another press conference or to give a speech. And every time, he delivers platitudes designed to soothe the masses. I'm tired of seeing this guy's mug as well as his wife's. Where's the leadership? So far, Obama's only been adept at signing bills without reading them or signing bogus executive orders (e.g., close Gitmo by paying millions to other countries to accept the prisoners, end torture but maintain rendition).

The list of reasons to expel Obama keeps getting longer and stronger, and this is only five months into his reign.

Everyone knows about his inexperience. His rhetorical abilities made people overlook this weakness. Even his eligibility to have become president is becoming an issue.

He places personal and party ideologies over what is best for America. I thought when appointing justices, it was supposed to be "the best person for the job" and "justice is blind." Affirmative-action policies and "empathy" aren't part of the requirements for appointment.

He fits the definition of being a narcissist perfectly. This makes him extremely dangerous for the country. He only cares about what is best for him, not the country.

He is ashamed of our country (as was his wife until Barack won his party's nomination) even though it has given him immense amounts of opportunity. He constantly feels the need to apologize for our country's history of perceived repressiveness.

Your history of duplicity is unmatched. This was illustrated numerous times throughout the campaign. You carry it forward into your presidency.

You incur the largest-ever budget deficit and then insist that we operate on a pay-as-you-go principle from now on. Of course, shortly thereafter, you exempt your government-run health program costs from this rule. You are great with smoke and mirrors, Barack. You are the ultimate flim-flam man.

You are a corrupt man. You appoint tax cheats and disreputable people to positions of power. You promise no lobbyists in your administration, yet no other administration had close to the number you now have.

You fire people who uncover very serious issues of impropriety by organizations run by individuals who are close friends of yours. You had your Justice Department cancel a criminal suit against goons, representing your friends ACORN and the Black Panthers, involving voter intimidation tactics at election polls.

Oh, there's birthers everywhere, VT. The whole blogosphere is infested with these maggots. Conspiracy theorists and lunatics of every stripe. I was riding the commuter train with a couple of neighbors, and one said he was really worried about Obama, and we all agreed. Look at all the rabid hatred of him, even here.You know it's much worse most other places.

During Democratic administrations, the crazies get really agitated and violent, especially the gun, religious, and tax crazies. We will have more Wacos and Ruby Ridges before this is over.

I just hope the Secret Service is paying attention and monitoring blogs like this. They should be.

This guy doesn't need a reset button, he needs a U-turn button. He must renounce his vile schemes to bankrupt the country, reduce it to socialist despotism, and place it under the control of the United Nations.

Pres. Obama told Harry Smith that "I would not want just a calm, passive dog. I want a dog with a little bit of spirit." Maybe so when picking a family pet. But when it comes to the media, PBO apparently prefers a lapdog.

You Progressives out there don't have to worry. The state run, corporate media will just sit there on their hands. Obama will call on pre-arranged questioners who will ask pre-arranged questions without meaningful follow-up. BHO will blather on with endless, Castro/Chavez like answers to vapid questions. He will answer 13 questions and then the timid propagandists, who are still awake, will be dismissed from his presence. We will be told how smart BHO is, how witty, how he has given new impetus to his program and no doubts will be cast on his answers or more importantly his veracity.

Let's face it. The media elected this guy, and they have too much invested in him to ask real questions, to go after him like they did Bush or to let him fail. Who will they put on the cover of their pamphlets...uh, magazines and who will they do fawning, groveling TV specials on and with from the WH?

His failure is their failure.

__________________

This post says it all, and succinctly. The media are no longer the people taking a critical and questioning look at politics and policy...they are merely the conduit for Obama to press forth his ideas, with zero accountability or discernment.

I'm willing to bet that this "press conference" will have no questions of substance...Obama will blather on and on with each of his answers, basically saying the same thing each time - pretty much nothing.

been over four days since he spoke in public. he must have withdrawal by now.

Let's see him dance around his spinelessness. the missile pointed at his supposed birthplace. the ship carrying WMDs. the iranian women who are braver then he. the endless costs of his notions. the sinking approval ratings.

"Utter activism in the cause of utter restraint. Strange, and a bit unsettling for practicing lawyers when courts alter the wording of statutes that they do not find to be unconstitutional."

Yeah, I don't know that I like the way they handled this. They basically changed a law so they wouldn't have to rule on it's constitutionality. I want the SC to rule on the Constitutionality of laws - that's their job.

From Robert's words and the court's actions over the last decade or so, it seems as if people think that the SCotUS is subservient somehow to The Legislature and The Executive. This isn't how it's supposed to be - The framers created 3 co-equal branches of government in this country. It's a shame to see tScotUS jumping through such hoops to avoid doing their job.

Reply to wheelerjc. Why would you write:"When President Obama came to office, he had America behind him -- perhaps moreso than any other president since John Kennedy"? This sounds like liberal brainwashing. Kennedy barely won his election and he was never very popular until he was shot. Most of his programs were disastrous especially his "Carter-esque" pseudo-secret-and-failed invasion of Cuba. (Illegal, of course.) Let us add his build up of Vietnam and his ordering of the murder of the leader of South Vietnam. If you are looking for a president who had significant public backing, then it is undoubtedly President Reagan who demolished the campaign of the incompetent Jimmy Carter and slaughtered Carter's VP, Mondale, in the next election. Now, that was a very very popular president!

If anything, the GOP game of distractions just never stops. The time has come to stop caring or worrying about all the distractions, just set the liberal agenda and follow it. Let them cry and whimper all they want, it's all just a distraction.

They got nothing, President Obama, nothing. Nothing but a bunch of noisemakers and attention seekers who will do ANYTHING to steer you off course. Pay them no mind and the country will be better for it. Please follow the liberal agenda, ram this stuff through, who really cares if they act like 2 yr olds and cry the whole time. They are g oing to cry and whine anyway, right. So let's give them something to really cry about - national health care with a government option. That's what I'm talking about.

if obama is declared a USURPER there is a good chance that most of these terrible mistakes he has made can be automatically reversed...

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter: "Before the court is a motion by plaintiffs for reconsideration of order to show cause or in the alternative to certify question for appeal. Court sets this matter for hearing on July 13, 2009 at 8:30a.m. in Courtroom 9D. Plaintiffs are directed to make every effort possible to ensure that all remaining defendants are aware of the hearing and provide documentation that the individual receiving service is authorized to accept on defendants' behalf."

It is becoming more and more apparent that we have elected a light-weight to the post of President. He is out of his element completely in foreign affairs and we are becoming more and more skeptical about his handle on the economy. Put simply, it doesn't seem that this president knows what he is doing.

In the single most bartered 8-1 decision I can remember in recent years, the Supremes improbably decided that the Austin MUD could apply to bail out of VRA.even though VRA statutory bail-out only applies to units that register voters, which the MUD does not. This is absolute activism and judicial legislation; no doubt about it.
BUT...
It was done explicitly [per Roberts] to avoid deciding the constitutionality of a key section of the VRA. This is a matter of jurisprudential restraint - never reach a constitutional issue when you can avoid it.

Utter activism in the cause of utter restraint. Strange, and a bit unsettling for practicing lawyers when courts alter the wording of statutes that they do not find to be unconstitutional.

I really object to the term "grow the economy" because it is poor English and you think the Post would know better. Having said that, I think it is inaccurate to claim that Obama expected the Stimulus Plan to create economic growth; the more accurate assumption is that he hoped it would slow or halt the precipitous decline we faced only 2 months ago.

Also, I think Obama is exactly right on the need for a moderate response to Iran and our own need for healthcare reform. Too often the Post attempts to tell the story like a reality show playing out in its own pages and in doing so does a great disservice to its readers.

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BORN IN THE USA?
Hearing set on default in Obama eligibility case
Judge asks for 2nd confirmation that president notified of case

"A judge in California has scheduled a July 13 hearing in a case challenging Barack Obama's eligibility to be president in which the plaintiffs' attorney, Orly Taitz, says the commander-in-chief is in default."

Katem is you are referring to the Dixie Chicks, they had their right to speak out. Since when has Hollywood or Musicsians been shy about expressing their political views. Just because you have few loons who make death threats doesn't mean nothing. You always have those loons on the left and right. What you are to do is those old trick of identifying the most extreme element and then try to broadbrush the entire conservative community. I don't pay attention to that anymore than I do people who want to string up Bush or Cheney. Or should I say former President Bush. You being a bit sensitive about titles arn't you?

You Progressives out there don't have to worry. The state run, corporate media will just sit there on their hands. Obama will call on pre-arranged questioners who will ask pre-arranged questions without meaningful follow-up. BHO will blather on with endless, Castro/Chavez like answers to vapid questions. He will answer 13 questions and then the timid propagandists, who are still awake, will be dismissed from his presence. We will be told how smart BHO is, how witty, how he has given new impetus to his program and no doubts will be cast on his answers or more importantly his veracity.

Let's face it. The media elected this guy, and they have too much invested in him to ask real questions, to go after him like they did Bush or to let him fail. Who will they put on the cover of their pamphlets...uh, magazines and who will they do fawning, groveling TV specials on and with from the WH?

vbhoomes: sigh, can you be anymore impatient? 6 months since he took office, he always said things would get worse before thay got better, and that's what's happening. And it's not Mr. Obama, it's President Obama. Three traditionally married with kids women, with no surgically enhanced body parts said, "We are ashamed the President is from Texas". No discrimination called for against a minority, no name calling, no personal insults, just a statement of their feelings and the conservative media led the way and they were professionally ostarsized, and ended up getting death threats. And conservatives scream about Prejean's right to freedom of speech? Where was the DC's right to speech? Why wasn't the conservative media called on their attacks which culminated in death threats? Gee, doesn't that remind you of a few conservative primetime pundits?

So the arrogant, nitwit is going in front of the lapdogs again? So what?
All we're going to hear is more self promotion from this incompetent coward who is destroying the economy(it's not improving) and is afraid to insult the cave men who are running Iran and killing its citizens who seek democratic elections.
No surprise, since Obama nd his band of incompetents are doing whatever they can to dismantle our democracy.
What an embarrassing loser this leftist is. Even some of the weak minded class envy mutts who elected him are finally realizing what a joke he is.

I guess we will find out who is right in the next several months Andy. I just think healthcare is to contentious of an issue with to many special interests involved for it to make it through Congress anytime soon. Unless the dems are willing to address Tort Reform, basically they are saying my way or the highway. It will be the Highway. It could have gotten through in Feb or Mar if that was the 1st item on his agenda. He's already burned through a lot of political capital.

When President Obama came to office, he had America behind him -- perhaps moreso than any other president since John Kennedy. But, there have been multiple miscalculations by the White House -- starting with way too many tax cheats obtaining cabinet positions. This was followed by wasted bail out money to the auto makers; financial institutions; pork projects; and less and less transparency. The closing of GITMO is quickly becoming a quicksand pit where former 'POWs' are complaining where they may be sent!! One could argue that our foreign affairs are much worse off today than they were at the end of January 2009 -- to wit, north Korea and Iran. Our relationship with our staunch allies -- Germany, France and the UK -- are certainly no better and may actually be worse!! But the big thing Obama is doing to hurt himself is the DAILY BRIEFING, DAILY EXPOSURE, and SCHMOOZING DAILY WITH THE PRESS.. HE IS OVER, REPEAT OVER EXPOSED. One can now anticipate what the teleprompter will say, and how Obama will use jestures. He may find that the reset button may be stuck!!

Bhoomes,
I think your wrong about healthcare being dead. It would shoot the GOP in the foot as bad as it would hurt Obama. Something will get done, but I think the idea of a public insurance provider will be scraped (although i disagree with that change). There is too much political pressure on this issue to let it die. The pharma industry, the hospital industry, the AMA, and the many advocate groups for patients rights are all working hard to settle this issue so that they can get stability moving forward. The last thing the medical industry wants is this issue to linger so long that it creates a setting where a single payer system is the politically best option for politicians.

I agree with you AndyR3 about Gov Sanford. Nobody in a leadership position, be it public or private, can go off and clear their head. You are suppose to be acessible 24/7. Any hopes about Sanford being President are over. Nobody would vote for someone who appears to be unstable. As for Obamas economic stimulus, he killed healthcare reform when he pushed it through Congress. This idea Obama had that your accomplish a half dozen big things as President has no basis in History. It was a pipedream he had. There is no stomach in this country for adding to the already exploding public debt.

I would like to hear Mr.Obama state that he had "convinced" South Korea, to apply for Statehood. If America can't "convince" them to do that, How are ever going to get our Enemies, to do anything for World Peace. Just the thought, of the "Possibility" that it could happen, would make Headlines the World over. All Nations would need to rethink their Policies towards America. No shots fired, nobody needs to get bombed. We CAN influence the World through Peaceful actions. If we just had the Brains to take them. This is one action that is LONG overdue.

Well there goes the idea that Sanford would be a good presidential candidate. You can't just peace out for a week if your the President of the United States.

I think you are going to see Obama double down on Healthcare and the economic stimulus package, and he will try and connect the two. He will say that for our recovery to really take off we need to fix the problem of rising healthcare costs, and he will use the recent decision by the pharma companies to lower prices on drugs for medicare as an example of buisness supporting this type of change.
Also I think you may hear him soften his stance on a public option for healthcare, and throw his support behind a coop or non-profit option (similar to what Blue Cross used to be).

I have no idea what he will say about Iran. Half of me wants him to declare war so we can go and help out the demonstrators and the other half wants him to let this play out since I think our involvement and support of the protestors helps the regime since they will tie us to Mousavi.

Obama is no where near Bubba Clintons ability to smooth talk you. Obama takes forever to answer a question. With Clinton, he never hesitated for a minute, it just rolled out immediately. Don' get me wrong, I am not big fan of Bill Clinton. Just trying to make the comparison that Clinton was much more an astute politician and a better communicator. I have no doubt Obama will be a one term President. Maybe after 2012, him and the MSM can go off and form a new party.

What I wonder about Brown, who by all accounts has been an admirable clean government guy for his entire career and who really had a strong hand in changing Oakland for the better as Mayor, is whether a classic liberal can win the general election if the CA Rs nominate an attractive moderate. I suspect he would win handily against a Norquist type.

Everyone just has to get used to the idea that we cannot dig ourselves out of this particular Republican Hole in just 5 months. It is gonna take a couple of years.

The panicky 15% of the public will always rush this way and that, first embracing the GOP, then stampeding to Obama, their new savior. That part of the population cannot be taken seriously when their ill-informed opinions send them crashing about. They do make exciting poll numbers that are fun to report, though.

Hopefully the lapdog media will ask some tougher questions and not softballs like hows your kids and dog getting along. The economy has gotten a lot worse since Obama took office and now we have worry about deficits that mortage our childrens futures. The dems answer; we will raise taxes in the worst economy since the Great Depression. Now all we need is a little bit more Protectionist legislation and we would have committed all of the policy sins of the Great Depression.